How Can We Become Free of Bad Karma?

Question

Respected sir, I'll be highly obliged to hv the guidance about Karma Theory.Is thr any way wth wch we can know th working of this theory..i.e whch suffings/joyful moments r th effect of whch karma?Past or previous , prarabhada /sanchit karma?Wht we may do to eliminate th effects of wrong past karmas?Being worldlywise creates many ill-effects of bad karmas?wht shud we do? e.g.Earning money is a need these days & there are alwz vested intersets with it.?Plz Guide. Rgds-AB

—Aditya Bhargava, India

Answer

Dear Aditya,

Your questions have been asked again and again throughout the ages: Why is there suffering in the world? And why does suffering happen to good people as well as bad ones?

Yoga philosophy and many other religions tell us that the laws of cause and effect function for us from lifetime to lifetime. If we go against natural law we incur bad karma, which must be corrected in the future, whether in this lifetime or another one. We might think of this karma as a debt which needs to be paid. Sometimes one is assisted by a guru who takes on some of the karma of his disciples, as Christ did through his crucifixion, and many other gurus as well.

The way to avoid creating more bad karma is to seek right action in every situation. Paramhansa Yogananda said, “You must live, so why not live rightly?” Above all, leave the past in the past, and don’t worry about it. As Yogananda’s guru, Sri Yukteswar, said, “The past lives of all are dark with many shames. Everything in future will improve if you are making the right spiritual effort now.”

Practice meditation and prayer, live a dharmic life, and follow the guidance of a true guru. Ask God for protection for you and your family. These things will help you overcome your past karma and give you peace of mind.